Water level projections at Hempstead and San Philepe gauges indicate that river level at Simonton could present a flood threat by as early as Saturday afternoon or evening. The city is waiting on more definitive information from FBC OEM in determining specific actions are necessary. This information should be available later this morning. Additional information will be posted on city website as it is received.

Take notice that Fort Bend County has been declared for Individual Assistance in the Presidential Declaration, DR-4269-TX, for the April Severe Weather. For More information on Fort Bend County Emergency Management Notice please click here:

Fort Bend County residents, regardless of if they have filed a damage report on the county’s website or not, should now visit http://www.disasterassistance.gov/ and file a claim with FEMA. People can apply for FEMA assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or web-enabled device at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. (CT). Multilingual operators are available. FEMA inspectors begin making appointments and visiting damaged areas as soon as people register for FEMA assistance in a declared county.

Any residents with questions or concerns about the disaster assistance process can call the Office of Emergency Management at (281) 342-6185 or visit http://fbcoem.org/

Flood Gauges

In times of great amounts of rainfall along the Brazos River basin, the Brazos River seems to take on a life of its own.

Because the Brazos is predictably unpredictable, the Brazos River Authority, along with the USGS, operates gauges at strategic locations on the Brazos River that we can use to anticipate the rates of flow as well as the volume of water that may be headed toward Simonton.

Using the USGS Gauges, Simonton residents can monitor the river on their own and take any actions that they feel are appropriate to ensure the safety of their family. Link to the Brazos River Authority Website: Gauges that you can monitor:

The predictions are for the river levels to match the predictions from the San Felipe gauges. This indicates a rise of 2 feet over the May 2015 event. This is complicated by Bessie’s Creek being bank full and the rains incurred earlier this week. At this time the Mayor is calling for a Voluntary evacuation. If you need assistance, please contact City Hall at 281-533-9809. If you are available to assist, please register at City Hall or on the Simonton web page.

This is notice is intended to keep Simonton residents informed as to the status of the weather event that began in the early hours of April 18th, 2016.

Events and Status

Early this morning, (April 18, 2016), the Mayor deployed the Emergence response team and opened the Emergency Operations Center. City Council Members, Emergency Response Team Members, Road and Bridge officials, and many volunteers were active throughout the day. These people spent their time assessing various situations, planning the response, and coordinating associated emergency response activities with officials. The result of these efforts was to develop a plan to handle the current flood threat. This includes the rental acquisition of three 12″ pumps as well as one 8″ pump. If needed, the rental pumps are anticipated to be deployed in conjunction with the city’s own 8″ pumps, possibly as early as Tuesday am.

Immediate Issue of Concern: Tuesday Morning (04-19-16)

The city is concerned about the possibility of a rare “double crest” of the Brazos River that could lead to the threat of localized flooding. If National Weather Service predictions are correct, this could result in the Brazos River rising to a level at or near “bank full” some time early Tuesday morning, then receeding a bit over the next couple of days, and possibly cresting again later in the week. If this occurs, there is a risk of local flooding twice this week.

In an effort to deal with the threat, Fort Bend County Road and Bridge crews are on-site at this time (04-18-16) and will remain until the threat passes. If it becomes appropriate, they are prepared to lower the flood gates at the Fort Bend outfall ditch and subsequently deploy flood pumps to force water out of the Valley Lodge Subdivision.

Sandbags at City Hall

Volunteers have prepared a limited number of sandbags for Simonton residents. They are available at Simonton City Hall. We are asking people to take no more than three per doorway. This should help keep out water that may splash into your home when you open your doors.

Your Safety is Up to You

It goes without saying that each resident in Simonton is responsible for their own safety. If, at any time, you feel unsafe, you are advised to take your safety into your own hands and act accordingly. If you have an emergency situation, call 911. If you need assistance otherwise, you can call Simonton City Hall at 281-533-9809.

Bear in mind that our focus throughout the coming days will be on immediate emergency response issues. For that reason, if your call doesn’t receive an immediate answer, either call back, leave a message or simply drop by Simonton City Hall. We will do all we can to assist you if possible or direct you to the appropriate assistance.

Please continue to monitor this website for “Official” information from the City of Simonton.

The above Brazos River Gauge at Hempstead is provided for your reference. Note that river levels at Hempstead are generally estimated to reach Simonton within 18-24 hours. Also, 48′ in Hempstead is generally considered to result in a “Bank-Full” condition when a crest reaches Simonton – meaning that further increases in river levels could result in incremental area flooding depending on a number of factors.

As with all emergency planning and preparation, it remains up to the individual to monitor the situation and determine whether they feel safe. If at any time you do not feel safe, the City recommends that you take appropriate measures to secure your safety.

Prompt and detailed reporting of suspicious activities can help prevent violent crimes or terrorist attacks. If you see suspicious activity, please report it to your local police department. Local law enforcement officers can respond quickly.

Information included in the City of Simonton website and all city web applications is believed to be accurate but is not guaranteed. The City of Simonton is not liable for any potential errors, omissions or outdated information. If any errors are noted within any city department website or application, then please notify the City. The documents posted on the City of Simonton website are not official documents and are made available as a convenience.

The City of Simonton website provides external website links so that users can find reference material on related subjects. The City of Simonton does not own nor control linked sites and therefore is not responsible for the content included in them. Additionally, the City of Simonton does not endorse externally linked websites.